Iggy Pop’s ‘Post Pop Depression’ Album Streaming Ahead of Release

Iggy Pop surprised many earlier this year when he turned up to sing on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. It seemed an odd booking, until it was revealed just a few hours before the performance that Pop had secretly recorded a new album called Post Pop Depression. with the help of Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme and Dean Fertita and Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders. Given the secretive nature of the recording, there's been plenty of fascination about the album and now fans can hear it in full as it is streaming ahead of its release.

The disc, which can be heard in full below, has already yielded three tracks -- the sullen and bluesy opener "Break Into Your Heart," the laid back track "Gardenia" and a more danceable upbeat song addressing the tedium of the week called "Sunday."

But there's definitely more worth checking out on this nine-song set. The bass-led "American Valhalla" ends with Pop sans instruments showing the power of his voice stating, "I have nothing but my name." "In the Lobby" is a more upbeat track exploring the singer's paranoia, while "German Days" has a more nostalgic feel even though Pop implores the listener to "turn the page." Meanwhile, the album also features the deliciously dark and catchy "Chocolate Drops," as well as the more upbeat and defiant closer "Paraguay."

Speaking earlier this year about the album, Homme told the New York Times that he saw Pop's Lust for Life era as a starting point. “Where those records pointed, it stopped," said Homme. "But without copying it, that direction actually goes for miles. And when you keep going for miles you can’t see these two records any more.”

Pop stated of the album's theme, "What happens after your years of service? And where is your honor? ... In American life, because it’s so hypercompetitive, what happens when you’re finally useless to everyone except hopefully not yourself? What happens then? And can you continue to be of use to yourself? I have that kind of character in mind. It was sort of a cross between myself and a military veteran."

Get a listen to the album in full below, streaming via NPR. Post Pop Depression arrives March 18 and is currently available to pre-order at Amazon and iTunes.

Iggy Pop, Post Pop Depression Album Stream (via NPR)

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